State seeks public input on ESSA plan via online surveys

A
second round of online surveys is now open to inform the state’s Every Student
Succeeds Act plan.

The
surveys – which cover the topics of school support and improvement, long term
goals and measurements of long term progress, and measures of school success
and public reporting – are available here.

The
Delaware Department of Education also is hosting a series of community
conversations across the state to collect input. A session was held last
evening in Wilmington. The next session is Monday in Lewes followed by sessions
in Seaford, Dover and Newark. Two additional sessions targeted for
Spanish-speaking community members are planned for Wilmington and Georgetown.
Find details and registration links for all of the remaining session below.

In December 2015, Congress reauthorized
the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA), the main federal law
governing public education. The Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) replaces the
No Child Left Behind Act (NCLB). As part of NCLB, Delaware is one of the
43 states operating under ESEA Flexibility.

ESSA gives
states more flexibility and provides more state and local control over the
accountability process. ESSA implementation will begin during the 2017-18 school
year. The 2016-17 school year provides the opportunity to consult
with stakeholders, develop Delaware’s plan, and submit the plan to the
U.S. Department of Education for approval.

A first round of community conversations
and a series of online surveys in September provided public input that informed
the first draft of the state’s plan, which was released on Oct. 31 on the
state’s ESSA
web site. The second round of community conversations will
allow department leaders to receive feedback on the draft. The second round of
online surveys also will inform the next draft of the plan.

In addition to the larger community
conversations, department leaders are continuing to collect input through a
series of stakeholder consultation meetings. A Governor’s advisory committee and discussion
groups on the major aspects of the plan also are convening. One
discussion group is focusing on technical topics related to measures of school
success and reporting. The second group is focusing on provisions for student
and school supports. The discussion groups provide information to the advisory
group.

The state will
submit its plan to the U.S. Department of Education for approval by March 6.